Tomorrow's Workforce: School Pupils' Views of a Career in Hospitality. Research Report.

Tregaskis, Olga; And Others

A survey involving 1,024 secondary pupils and 22 career educators from schools throughout the United Kingdom collected information on pupils' perceptions of entering the hotel and catering industry as a career. The research looked in detail at the job expectations of pupils, the status they associated with hotel and catering and nonhotel and catering jobs, and their preferred and most useful sources of career information. Pupil information was collected by questionnaire. Statistical techniques included descriptive statistics, significance tests, and grouping procedures. Semistructured telephone interviews collected qualitative information from teachers. Five key factors influenced pupils' job expectations: potential for career development, personal satisfaction, work content, initiative, and job role. Generally, pupils had a narrow perception of the range of jobs and opportunities. The status associated with hotel and catering jobs was significantly lower than that associated with other jobs within the same occupational classification. Pupils viewed jobs within the industry as synonymous with low status. Work experience and workplace visits were the most preferred sources of career information. Pupils found career literature and videos slightly more useful sources of career information for hotel and catering jobs than for other jobs. Career educators were more useful to pupils trying to find out about jobs in general. Family was a primary source of information for all jobs. (YLB)